APPLICATION OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY TO ART IDENTIFICATION PROBLEMS - SECOND ANNUAL REPORT

摘要

The second year's effort under the subject contract is reviewed. A workable scheme for the separation of lead white from extraneous material in paintings is described for use in analysis by neutron activation (NAA). Data are presented on the effects on NAA of possible contaminants. Data are also presented for NAA of natural and synthetic ultramarine blue and of Van Dyke brown which indicate possible uses for the method. Results obtained for the analysis of lead-bearing metals for natural alpha radio activity show that "modern" material may be discerned but that older materials usually yield ambiguous results. The construction of a low-level, small-sample carbon-14 counter is described. This counter is to be used to detect recent man-made additions of carbon-14 to certain artists' materials, especially linseed oil.